Can Arnold Schwarzenegger save Washington politics?

By Danielle Berrin
Published on September 27, 2012

How Hollywood’s biggest politicos leaned right, not left

By Jonathan Kirsch
Published on March 14, 2012

Ronald Reagan, Shirley Temple, Sony Bono, George Murphy and Arnold Schwarzenegger are all entertainers who launched their political careers in California, and they are all Republicans. Indeed, aside from Al Franken, no prominent Democratic officeholder on the scene today started out in the entertainment industry.

Sex, Politics, Deviants, Dogs, Jews & Gentiles

By Ilana Angel
Published on June 8, 2011

1-800-DONTCHEAT

By Rob Eshman
Published on May 24, 2011

Two months before Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted to fathering a child with his housekeeper, I spent a week e-mailing rabbis about adultery. My question to them was this: Would they agree to a public dialogue with the creator of an online matchmaking service for people seeking extramarital affairs? One after another, they said no.

Why powerful men can’t keep their pants on

By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
Published on May 18, 2011

The number of public men destroyed of late through sexual scandals is simply staggering. Within 48 hours of each other we heard that IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who many believed would be the next President of France, as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger, until a few weeks ago the Governor of the most populous state in the Union, self-destructed with sex scandals.

Jewish Men Don’t Cheat! Ha! And Ashley Madison is a Dating Site!

By Julia Bendis
Published on May 17, 2011

Schwarzenegger steals show at LA Israel event

Published on May 12, 2011

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stole the show at the Israel Independence Day celebration hosted by Consul General Jacob Dayan in Los Angeles. Twelve national and international television crews, plus another dozen photographers and print reporters jostled for positions Tuesday evening to cover the event, in particular the governor as he received an award recognizing his longtime support of Israel and the nation’s economy.

L.A. Consulate’s Yom HaAtzmaut program: Entertainment, pols, supporters

By Tom Tugend
Published on May 11, 2011

Twelve national and international television crews, plus another dozen photographers and print reporters jostled for positions Tuesday evening May 10 to cover the Israel Independence Day celebration hosted by the country’s Consul General Jacob Dayan in Los Angeles.

Schwarzenegger making play dates with Medvedev

By Julia Bendis
Published on January 14, 2011

Arnold stops at Jewish Home for Aging; Cal GOP says ad campaign worked; North Valley JCC shooting la

Published on November 9, 2006

Even when the gubernatorial election was just two days away, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger found time to talk to a large group of senior citizens at the Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda.

Tri-ing to raise funds for Israel; gems of wisdom for 5767

Published on September 14, 2006

Tri-ing to Raise Funds for Israel; Gems of Wisdom for 5767.

The Circuit

By Norma Zager
Published on April 13, 2006

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayal met recently and placed a call to congratulate new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. They, along with Ayal's wife, Anne, extended congratulations on the Kadima Party victory.

Blaze Touches Off Tense Moments

By Adam Wills
Published on September 29, 2005

Jeff and Liz Kramer and their three teenage sons could only watch and wait. The Sutton Valley residents paced the sidewalk in front of their home on Thursday morning, watching as the head of the Topanga Canyon Fire crept along a ridge less than 800 yards away, consuming brush and sending up billows of smoke.

Bibi May Mount Sharon Challenge

By Idan Ivri
Published on July 7, 2005

At the moment, Benjamin Netanyahu is working under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as finance minister, but at a stop in Beverly Hills last week, Netanyahu sounded like he'd rather have Sharon's job.

"Bibi," who served as prime minister from 1996 to 1999, has denied rumors that he will soon resign his post, but has been sounding more and more like a political candidate in recent months.

Most notably, he's staked out a position opposing Sharon's plan to evacuate settlers and troops next month from the Gaza Strip.

‘Fantastic’ Resource

By Tom Tugend
Published on June 30, 2005

Does it really matter that California's governor was born in Austria? Accent or not, Arnold Schwarzenegger is all American now, from his biceps to his latissimus dorsi.

Well, Arnold's Austrian-ness matters to at least one man -- Martin Weiss. To Weiss, the new Austrian consul general in Los Angeles, the Austrian lad who left home and made good is a precious resource.

Visiting Austrian VIPs all ask for private face time with their famous landsman. Weiss does the best he can.

A Four-Part Fight

By Jill Stewart
Published on March 3, 2005

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is picking a fight with longtime powers in Sacramento instead of trying to be everybody's pal, raising a question of whether he can bring voters along with him who are torn by their desire for good government but angry over mounting partisanship.

Voters, according to a recent Mervin Field California Poll, are open to the governor's four reform ideas heading into a probable November special election, even though voters don't personally approve of Schwarzenegger as much as they once did.

The Arnold Factor

By Jill Stewart
Published on January 13, 2005

With the candidates for Los Angeles mayor increasingly invoking the name of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on the campaign trail, a buzz is breaking out over whether Schwarzenegger will endorse any of the challengers to Mayor James Hahn.

Last Call

By Rob Eshman
Published on November 4, 2004

As President Bush moved closer to re-election, one Kerry fan said he already had a new bumper sticker in mind for his car: "Hey, We Tried to Warn You."

The Circuit

By Gaby Wenig
Published on May 13, 2004

Recognition and Honor to individuals, groups, schools and a special appearance by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Tolerator

By Amy Klein
Published on May 6, 2004

Jerusalem -- Half a dozen Israeli teens shouted like rock groupies and pressed up against the blue metal police railing in hopes of catching a glimpse of larger-than-life California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was in Jerusalem Sunday to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Museum of Tolerance's new $200 million museum here.

Young and Old Recall Shoah Rites

By David Finnigan
Published on April 22, 2004

Southern California Jews and non-Jews marked Holocaust Remembrance Day together at numerous events, including one that saw German teenagers and Jewish and Hispanic schoolchildren under the same tent, listening to their peers recite the words of Anne Frank.

Budget Woes

By Jill Stewart
Published on January 29, 2004

One year ago, Gov. Gray Davis was calling for across-the-board cuts in every state department except the prisons, mass layoffs of workers and huge bites out of most programs for the disadvantaged.

Wrestling With Family

By Ric Drasin
Published on October 23, 2003

Yes, it's true. I was raised as an Orthodox Jew -- in Bakersfield no less. My parents were very strict about going to temple and observing the holidays and religion. But Dad also used to take me to the local wrestling matches when I was around 10. He got a kick out of watching the wrestlers and their antics, and I did, too.

Against the Tide—Again

By Raphael J. Sonenshein
Published on October 16, 2003

Can California's new Republican governor make inroads among traditionally Democratic Jews?

Your Letters

Published on October 16, 2003

Your Letters

Arnold’s Post-Recall Bridge Building

By Marc Ballon
Published on October 16, 2003

Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger has worked quickly to build bridges to the Jewish community and live up to his promise of including people of all races, religions and political views in his administration.

Jews Split Over Arnold Victory

By Tom Tugend
Published on October 9, 2003

"It used to be in California that we were afraid to speak out in a roomful of Jews, but now we're standing up and speaking up," said a jubilant Bruce Bialosky, who chairs the Southern California chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition. "Why, even the rabbis are changing their sermons."

Bialosky talked on his cell phone above the din at Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory party, minutes after Democratic Gov. Gray Davis had conceded his loss in the recall election, and the Republican movie star was chosen as his successor.

"This is akin to the Reagan revolution and we're going to make big inroads into the Democratic hold on Jewish voters," proclaimed attorney Sheldon Sloan, one of Schwarzenegger's earliest Jewish backers.

The optimistic outlook of the two Republican stalwarts was not shared by Democrats. Most political analysts did not foresee a basic change in the state's political culture.

Meet Bill

By Rob Eshman
Published on October 9, 2003

What was that all about?

Those on the left will say the recall election we just survived was a sneaky Republican power grab. Those on the right will say it was a citizen revolt against a sleazy and ineffectual governor.

Those in the middle will say, "Are we done yet?"

It's not clear, this early on, who wins and who loses in this process. If Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger succeeds in balancing the state budget while improving California's business climate, educational system and environment -- just as he promised -- then we all win.

Why I Voted For Arnold

By Si Frumkin
Published on October 9, 2003

First a disclaimer: I have never met Arnold Schwarzenegger, have never spoken to him, was never contacted by his political people, no one ever asked me to support him, or offered me money to do so. I supported him because I respect him and because I am convinced that he will be good for California. In fact, if I may brag just a little, I started predicting that he would be the next governor of California many months ago, when only a few hard-line nuts seriously considered that a recall could be successful. I didn't think/hope that Gray Davis would be recalled. I just was sure that Arnold would run and win the next race.

Schwarzenegger Retracts Waldheim Wedding Toast

By Adam Wills
Published on October 2, 2003

California gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he regrets his 1986 wedding toast to former U.N. Secretary Kurt Waldheim.

"It was a mistake," Schwarzenegger told The Jewish Journal. "You can't go [back]. It's always easier to be smart in hindsight."

Schwarzenegger spoke to The Journal during a press conference following a live Sept. 25 town hall meeting on the nationally syndicated radio program "The Sean Hannity Show." The Republican Jewish Coalition, KABC and Fox News cosponsored the event.

Schwarzenegger Retracts Waldheim Wedding Toast

By Adam Wills
Published on September 25, 2003

California gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he regrets his 1986 wedding toast to former U.N. Secretary Kurt Waldheim.

Arnold’s Choice

By Rob Eshman
Published on September 18, 2003

If there was a presidential candidate whose father accused "the Jew media" and "Jewish pundits in New York and Los Angeles" of beating the drums for war, and said he had no problem with harassing and punishing the Jews -- but such things shouldn't be done in "a loud clamor" -- would you vote for that candidate?

Arnold’s Challenge

By Marc Ballon
Published on August 28, 2003

With his bulging biceps, $20 million megawatt smile and charisma, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has injected some real star power into the circus that is California's gubernatorial recall campaign.

Recall Quandaries

By Raphael J. Sonenshein
Published on August 14, 2003

Jewish leaders continue to decry Mel Gibson's forthcoming Jesus movie for supposedly threatening to whip up anti-Semitism. Due out next April, "The Passion" identifies Jewish priests as instigators of the crucifixion.